The Compressor
• The compressor is the
heart of the system.
The compressor does
just what it’s name is. It
compresses the low
pressure refrigerant
vapor from the
evaporator and
compresses it into a
high pressure vapor.
How they are different from pumps?
Major difference is that compressors handles the gases and
pumps handles the liquids.
As gases are compressible, the compressor also reduces the
volume of gas.
Liquids are relatively incompressible; while some can be
compressed
Centrifugal pump
What are its applications?
Compressors have many everyday uses, such as in :
Air conditioners, (car, home)
Home and industrial refrigeration
Hydraulic compressors for industrial machines
Air compressors for industrial manufacturing
Refrigeration compressor
What are its various types?
Compressor classification can be described by following flow
chart:
What are dynamic compressors?
The dynamic compressor is continuous flow compressor is
characterized by rotating impeller to add velocity and thus
pressure to fluid.
It is widely used in chemical and petroleum refinery industry for
specific services.
There are two types of dynamic compressors
Centrifugal Compressor
Axial Flow Compressor
Centrifugal Compressor
Achieves compression by applying inertial forces to the gas by
means of rotating impellers.
It is multiple stage ; each stage consists of an impeller as the
rotating element and the stationary element, i.e. diffuser
Fluid flow enters the impeller axially and discharged radially
The gas next flows through a circular chamber (diffuser),
where it loses velocity and increases pressure.
Axial flow compressor
Working fluid principally flows parallel to the axis of
rotation.
The energy level of air or gas flowing through it is increased
by the action of the rotor blades which exert a torque on the
fluid
Have the benefits of high efficiency
and large mass flow rate
Require several rows of airfoils to
achieve large pressure rises making
them complex and expensive
Why multistage compressor?
High temp rise leads into limitation for the maximum
achievable pressure rise.
Discharge temperature shall not exceed 150ºC and should not
exceed 1350C for hydrogen rich services
A multistage centrifugal compressor compresses air to the
required pressure in multiple stages.
Intercoolers are used in between each stage to removes heat
and decrease the temperature of gas so that gas could be
compressed to higher pressure without much rise in temperature
Intercooler
What are positive displacement compressors?
Positive displacement compressors causes movement by
trapping a fixed amount of air then forcing (displacing) that
trapped volume into the discharge pipe.
It can be further classified according to the mechanism used to
move air.
Rotary Compressor
Reciprocating compressor
Rotary compressors
The gas is compressed by the rotating
action of a roller inside a cylinder.
The roller rotates off-centre around a
shaft so that part of the roller is always in
contact with the cylinder.
Volume of the gas occupies is reduced
and the refrigerant is compressed.
High efficient as sucking and
compressing refrigerant occur
simultaneously.
Reciprocating compressor
It is a positive-displacement compressor
that
Uses pistons driven by a crankshaft to
deliver gases at high pressure.
The intake gas enters the suction
manifold, then flows into the compression
cylinder
It gets compressed by a piston driven in
a reciprocating motion via a crankshaft,
Discharged at higher pressure
How to select a
particular type
of compressor ?
Graph showing operating regions of various compressors
Table showing operating conditions of various compressors
Advantages and Disadvantages of dynamic compressors
Advantages Disadvantages
Dynamic
Compressors
Centrifugal •Wide operating range •Instability at reduced
•High reliability flow
•Low Maintenance •Sensitive to gas
composition change
Axial •High Capacity for •Low Compression
given size ratios
•High efficiency •Limited turndown
•Heavy duty
•Low maintenance
Advantages and disadvantages of
positive displacement type compressor
Advantages Disadvantages
Positive displacement
compressor
Reciprocating •Wide pressure •Heavy foundation required
ratios •Flow pulsation
•High efficiency •High maintenance
Diaphragm •Very high •Limited capacity range
pressure •Periodic replacement of
•Low flow diaphragm
•No moving seal
Screw •Wide application •Expensive
•High efficiency •Unsuitable for corrosive or
•High pressure dirty gases
ratio
Selection Considerations
o Safety
a. Limiting gas properties (e.g., decomposition,
flammability, toxicity).
b. Compatibility of process gas with materials of
construction
c. Over-pressure protection
Economics
a. Life-cycle cost
b. User and vendor capabilities and facilities for maintaining
equipment
c. Expected equipment reliability
RECIPROCATING COMPRESSORS
Detailed Analysis
Block diagram of reciprocating
compressor
It is a piston and
cylinder device
with (automatic)
spring controlled
inlet and exhaust
valves
There is a
clearance between
the piston crown
and the top of the
cylinder.
Construction of Reciprocating
Compressors
Reciprocating compressors can be divided
into two main groups.
1. Gas end.
2. Power end.
Different Parts Of Gas End
Various parts of gas end are:
Cylinder & liner
Piston
Piston rod
Piston rod packing
Piston rings
Valves
Different Parts of Power End
Various parts of power end are
• Crank and Crankshaft
• Connecting rod
• crosshead
Crank and crankshaft
Connecting rod crosshead
Rod Run Out
• Its a measurement criterion used to determine piston rod
running alignment variations relative to cylinder crosshead
alignment
• Run-out must be checked in both horizontal and vertical
directions
Relief Valve
• Used to control or limit the pressure in a system or vessel
• The pressure is relieved by allowing the pressurized fluid to
flow from an auxiliary passage out of the system
• Designed or set to open at a predetermined set pressure
Table showing margin pressure for relief valves
Cycle Analysis
process
1->2 compression
2->3 discharge
3->4 expansion
4->1 induction
Mass Flow Definition
Mass flow rate is the rate at which mass enters the inlet
during suction
The mass flow rate is simply given by
Where fc is compressor rotational frequency in
Hz
Volumetric efficiency
It is Ratio of the actual volume of gas sucked by it to the
theoretical volume that it could have sucked if clearance
volume was not present.
• It is also defined as ratio of intake mass flow rate to the
theoretical swept volume mass flow rate
Work and Power Definitions
The theoretical work required for gas compression, W,
calculated by integrating the PV curve is
Where n is polytropic exponent
Adiabatic And Isothermal Power
Power supplied in adiabatic compression
Power supplied in isothermal compression
Shaft Power And Actual Power
Shaft power is the experimentally measured power
required to run a compressor
It is given by
Actual power is defined as the power required for gas
compression only . It is power integrated from an
experimentally measured PV curve
Various types of efficiencies
Adiabatic efficiency Mechanical efficiency
Isothermal efficiency Overall efficiency
Volumetric Efficiency
If clearance is specified:
Rotary Compressor
Centrifugal Compressor
- Efficient DC
IMPROVED FORdrive
:
- Smooth operation
MID-SPEED &
/ LOW SPEED
RUNNING
low noise
Hitachi Compressor
DC inverter‐driven compressor
Motor efficiency
DC motor
95
AC motor
1200 2400 3600 7200 (rpm)
DC inverter‐driven compressor
Rotor shape Neodymium
Optimized Magnet used
Eliminated Elevate full field
unique electric revolving speed
magnetic noise efficiency of
of DC compressor
compressor
Hitachi Compressor
HITACHI SCROLL COMPRESSOR
First to manufacture scroll compressor
Few parts, simple mechanism
Patented technology
Patented
Very low noise
Very low vibration
Small & compact
More reliable
THE BEST !!
TOP ALL INVERTER
TYPE COMPRESSORS
THE BEST !!
TOP ALL INVERTER
TYPE COMPRESSORS
Inverter Scroll DigitalBRAND
OTHER Scroll
Compressor
Inverter air conditioner Compressor
Inverter type air conditioner
Inverter Scroll Compressor Digital Scroll Compressor
COMPLICATED MECHANISM
OF A DIGITAL SCROLL
Solenoid valve
Modulation chamber
Bleed hole
Lift piston
Assembly
OTHER BRAND
Inverter air conditioner Inverter type air conditioner
low noise & vibration Generate noise & vibration
Less worn off Parts wear off more
Low defect rate More prone to defect
Provide steady flow Not guarantee steady
flow
Inverter Scroll Compressor Digital Scroll Compressor
Fix scroll Discharge
Rotating
scroll
Suction
This is how the scroll works ..
Fix scroll Discharge
Rotating
scroll
This is how the scroll works ..
Scroll movement
HITACHI Inverter Scroll DigitalScroll
VARIABLE SPEED RELEASING PRESSURE
